“We greatly enjoyed Mindful Maki. It was a thoughtful way to share the making of a meal. The prompt cards throughout the afternoon sparked our conversations and led us along the steps to make our meal. Our session was aimed at couples, and we found it exciting and interesting to reflect on past experiences and future dreams. It was a fun journey and a pleasant, slow-down activity. Not once did we look at the time or our phones. Our host, James, was attentive and genuine, taking time to get to know all the participants. Our ending meal was beautiful, featuring quality ingredients. Recommend this experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
“I was so impressed by this Mindful Maki experience, and even more impressed by our teacher, James. The class and deck felt so intentional, and had the perfect ratio of engagement and self-guidance. I left with a newfound appreciation for the mindfulness aspect of cooking, learning that cooking can be a slowed-down process with more than just the end goal of eating. There are options for solo, couple or group experiences, so there’s something for everyone! I highly recommend James’ Mindful Maki experience if you’d like to connect with yourself and/or others, learn some sushi-making techniques, and have a delicious sushi bowl to devour after as well!”
“This was the first time that my friends and I attended an experience like this, and it was easily the most memorable “cooking class” that i’ve ever done. James did an incredible job at setting up the night with his thoughtful touches- from the freshly sourced ingredients, to his attentiveness with demonstrating, to the mindful eating exercise at the end. Each stage throughout the night was curated so well! Not only did we leave with our bellies full, but our hearts were warm and our friendship also deepened to a new level. Highly recommend this unique experience!”
“I attended the workshop with two of my closest friends and it was such a special experience. The workshop blended creativity, mindfulness, and connection in a way that felt both effortless and deeply intentional. Working together to create our sushi bowls felt like a gentle return to the simple joy of making something with your hands. There was no rush or pressure — just an invitation to slow down and enjoy the process together. What really stayed with us though was the food for thought cards. Each question gently invited us to open up in ways we don’t often hold space for in our every day lives. They encouraged conversations that were meaningful without ever feeling forced. We found ourselves laughing, crying, reflecting, and sharing memories we hadn’t talked about in years. We walked away feeling closer to each other, more present in our own minds, and grateful for the gentle reminder that connection can be created with small, intentional moments.
Mindful Maki offers something special that goes far beyond food; it creates a moment of presence between people that nourishes you on multiple levels. It’s the kind of experience you carry with you, and I genuinely think anyone looking to reconnect, slow down, or simply share something meaningful with someone they care about would find so much value in it.
(Thank you James for such a wonderful night!)”
“I loved the mindful prompts, they were thought provoking and engaging. They provided a basis for discussion around relationships and psychology. Also bonus, we had amazing chirashi to accompany the chats. Food was easy to make!”
“It’s quite rare to take a moment and reflect on your experiences in life. There are too many distractions and it’s only amplified by social media. James has set up something truly special where he invites you to connect with others (or even with yourself) through the one experience every human shares: food.
The prompts give you an avenue to explore fond memories and moments you may not even realise mean a lot to you. On top of all this, you get to learn how to prepare a sushi bowl and share it with others, a skill I know I’ll be using every so often.
There is a sincerity in this experience that shines through and I’d highly recommend it for those who want to take things slow and learn new things about yourself and/or others.
Thank you James!”
“I recently attended James’ mindful cooking ritual workshop at Chestnut Café, and it was truly beautiful. The whole experience centred around slowing down, being present, and reconnecting with the people we love.
James’ gentle guidance and thoughtful approach made the session feel meaningful and personal, especially considering it was his first ever workshop. You could really feel the heart behind the concept.
What stood out to me most was how something as simple as being mindful while cooking turned out to be much harder to do in real life. It made me reflect on how chaotic I’ve been in the kitchen all these years. Life moves so fast that we often forget to pause, and this workshop really opened my eyes to a different perspective.
The food was amazing! We got to make our own chirashi bowls with incredibly fresh seafood, complemented by the best pickled ginger I’ve ever tasted. We also enjoyed a hearty miso soup, and finished with delicious panna cotta cups, with the matcha layer being my favourite.”
“This was such a memorable experience ! James fostered a warm and inviting atmosphere and this experience combined my curiosity for cooking with a gentle mindfulness element. You also get mindfulness cards which really guide you through the process which was great. Highly recommend for friends or couples”
